"
What makes us die, makes us live."
These words come
from the Easter Sequence for the Mass:
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, Who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended
In that combat stupendous:
The Prince of Life,
Who died, reigns immortal.
The angel asks the
women, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead" (Lk. 24:5)?
Mary Magdalene is the first to report the startling news of the empty tomb! She
assumed that Jesus' body had been stolen! She was not yet prepared to meet the
Risen Christ Who would reveal Himself to her while she later lingered in the
garden near the tomb (cf. Jn. 20:11-18).
John, the beloved
Apostle of Jesus, wrote in his Gospel as an eye-witness of the Word of God Who
became flesh and dwelt among us, and Who died and rose for our salvation. John
was the only one, along with Mary the mother of Jesus and the other women who
stood at the foot of the cross, who witnessed Jesus' death on Good Friday.
After the women returned and gave their report, John is the first of the
Apostles, along with Peter, to see the empty tomb on Easter morning. What did
John see in the tomb that led him to believe in the Resurrection? When he saw
the empty tomb he must have recalled Jesus' prophecy that He would rise again
after three days. Through the gift of faith John realized that no tomb on earth
could contain his and our Master and Giver of Life!
The reality of the
Resurrection is the key fact of the Christian Faith. It is through the gift of
God, Who opens our eyes through faith, to know Jesus and the loving power of
His Resurrection. This will bring us the greatest joy - to encounter the living
Jesus and to know Him intimately.
We have experienced
another Easter Triduum and we are reminded that Christ Jesus redeemed us all
and gave perfect glory to God through the Paschal Mystery. When we proclaim the
Mystery of Faith, "Save us, Savior of the World, for by Your Cross and
Resurrection You have set us free," it reminds me of the words that
someone once wrote and which are written on a picture hung on the wall of the
retreat house, " What makes us die, makes us live." How true that is.
In the Responsorial
Psalm we acclaim on this glorious day, "This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad" (Ps. 118:24). May we nurture our lives and
live them fully.
I wish you a
blessed Easter Sunday!